UC Berkeley wins legal battle to build student housing at People's Park

A California Supreme Court ruling allows student housing to be built at the historic People's Park in Berkeley. The court decided that a new law from 2023 makes the claims against the housing project invalid. Some people were worried that more students living in downtown Berkeley would create too much noise. This project has caused protests because the park is a symbol of the counterculture movement from the 1960s. The University of California, Berkeley, owns the land and plans to build housing for about 1,100 students. California needs more housing, especially for students. Some students have to sleep in their cars or travel long hours to attend classes because there aren't enough dorms or apartments. UC Berkeley provides housing to the lowest percentage of students in the UC system. The university wants to build a $312 million housing complex at People's Park, which has been a gathering place for the community and homeless people. Activists have fought to preserve the park, leading to clashes with police. In 2022, activists broke through a fence to stop trees from being cleared for the housing project. In January, police removed activists from the park and blocked it off with shipping containers. Some people believe there are better places for the university to build, and the park is a rare green space in a crowded neighborhood. The court's decision means UC Berkeley can move forward with the construction. The university says the housing is needed for students and homeless people. They also plan to revitalize part of the park as open space. Berkeley Mayor Jesse Arreguin praised the ruling on social media. The People's Park has been a site for protests and counterculture movements since the Vietnam War. The court ruled that the new law makes the claims against the housing project invalid. Some students struggle to find housing, and Berkeley provides the lowest percentage of housing compared to other UC schools. UC Berkeley plans to build housing for 1,100 students at People's Park. The park has a history of being a gathering place for the community and homeless people. The court's decision allows UC Berkeley to continue with the housing project. Some groups opposed the project, saying the university should have considered noise pollution under the California Environmental Quality Act. Governor Gavin Newsom promised to work on changing the law after a court ruled against UC Berkeley for not assessing noise impacts from student parties. Harvey Smith, president of a local advocacy group, expressed disappointment with the decision.